Dataset Information

Improving usability of Electronic Health Records in a UK Mental Health setting: a feasibility study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can help clinicians to plan, document and deliver care for patients in healthcare services. When used consistently, EHRs can advance patient safety and quality, and reduce clinician's workload. However, usability problems can make it difficult for clinicians to use EHRs effectively, which can negatively impact both healthcare professionals and patients.

Objective

To improve usability of EHRs within a mental health service in the UK.

Methods

This was a feasibility study conducted with two mental health teams. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Focus group discussions with clinicians identified existing usability problems in EHRs and changes were made to address these problems. Updated EHR assessment forms were evaluated by comparing the following measures pre and post changes: (1) usability testing to monitor time spent completing and duplicating patient information in EHRs, (2) clinician's experience of using EHRs, and (3) proportion of completed EHR assessment forms.

Results

Usability testing with clinicians (n = 3) showed that the time taken to complete EHR assessment forms and time spent duplicating patient information decreased. Clinician's experience of completing EHR assessment forms also significantly improved post changes compared to baseline (n = 71; p < 0.005). There was a significant increase in completion of most EHR forms by both teams after EHR usability improvements (all at p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Usability improvements to EHRs can reduce the time taken to complete forms, advance clinician's experience and increase usage of EHRs. It is important to engage healthcare professionals in the usability improvement process of EHRs in mental health services.

SUBMITTER: Buivydaite R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9177469 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Improving usability of Electronic Health Records in a UK Mental Health setting: a feasibility study.

Buivydaite Ruta R Reen Gurpreet G Kovalevica Tatjana T Dodd Harry H Hicks Ian I Vincent Charles C Maughan Daniel D

Journal of medical systems 20220608 7

<h4>Background</h4>Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can help clinicians to plan, document and deliver care for patients in healthcare services. When used consistently, EHRs can advance patient safety and quality, and reduce clinician's workload. However, usability problems can make it difficult for clinicians to use EHRs effectively, which can negatively impact both healthcare professionals and patients.<h4>Objective</h4>To improve usability of EHRs within a mental health service in the UK.<h4>M ...[more]

PMID: 35674989

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Project description:Background A growing body of literature has linked usability limitations within electronic health records (EHRs) to adverse outcomes which may in turn affect EHR system transitions. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (CU), and Weill Cornell Medical College (WC) are a tripartite organization with large academic medical centers that initiated a phased transition of their EHRs to one system, EpicCare.Objectives This article characterizes usability perceptions stratified by provider roles by surveying WC ambulatory clinical staff already utilizing EpicCare and CU ambulatory clinical staff utilizing iterations of Allscripts before the implementation of EpicCare campus-wide.Methods A customized 19-question electronic survey utilizing usability constructs based on the Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale was anonymously administered prior to EHR transition. Responses were recorded with self-reported demographics.Results A total of 1,666 CU and 1,065 WC staff with ambulatory self-identified work setting were chosen. Select demographic statistics between campus staff were generally similar with small differences in patterns of clinical and EHR experience. Results demonstrated significant differences in EHR usability perceptions among ambulatory staff based on role and EHR system. WC staff utilizing EpicCare accounted for more favorable usability metrics than CU across all constructs. Ordering providers (OPs) denoted less usability than non-OPs. The Perceived Usefulness and User Control constructs accounted for the largest differences in usability perceptions. The Cognitive Support and Situational Awareness construct was similarly low for both campuses. Prior EHR experience demonstrated limited associations.Conclusion Usability perceptions can be affected by role and EHR system. OPs consistently denoted less usability overall and were more affected by EHR system than non-OPs. While there was greater perceived usability for EpicCare to perform tasks related to care coordination, documentation, and error prevention, there were persistent shortcomings regarding tab navigation and cognitive burden reduction, which have implications on provider efficiency and wellness.

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Dataset Information

Improving usability of Electronic Health Records in a UK Mental Health setting: a feasibility study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Improving usability of Electronic Health Records in a UK Mental Health setting: a feasibility study.

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